Why Substack is like an art gallery
the frame of mind that inspired me
I feel like my drafts are full of gems. Simply because it’s the most raw and vulnerable part of my practice. It’s the beginning. The part with the least amount of pressure. The inflection point. The moments where ideas spark. The moments where seeds are planted. The moments I come across one word, thought, phrase, or memory—that sets the scene for everything else.
It feels like it’s just me talking to myself. Sharpening the pen. Spending time with my words. Intimately. Daringly.
I have plenty of them. Many that feel like when I look back on my writing ten years from now, I’ll be overcome with emotion and deep gratitude for the words I’m setting forth now. I know they’ll help aspiring writers—if I ever decide to put them out. In one form or another.
I happened to click on one of those drafts now. One of my more recent ones. November 8th. And was stunned by the beauty of it. Something in me felt compelled to hit publish.
Here it is:
Yearning to write—just to write, today. I need to get back to this habit. I need to adhere. I need to remind myself of how powerful this practice is for me. It’s one thing thing to practice. It’s another thing to explore deeper depth with said practice. I think that part is often understated.
Maybe I need to think bigger. Maybe I need to think small. As it pertains to all my goals with writing. Maybe, just maybe—I don’t need to think so much at all. Maybe I need to continue to do. To be. To express. To lead.
I can feel myself getting better with these words. Piecing sentences together is a true art form. I’m falling in love with it more each day. I’m so grateful that God places me here, in front of these keys, and enables the pressing of my fingers on them. The end result is usually beautiful. Like a work of art—a canvas, that belongs in an art gallery. Except that art gallery is usually my head. And more recently, Substack. Maybe that’s how I have to continue to treat this. Pitching my art to the art gallery Substack is. People will come and go. Those who are captured are meant to be captured. And they’ll stay. Whether it’s because a small, tiny, pixel or part of the art, or whether the entire piece as a whole has captivated them in a way few other works have.
Thinking of my writing in this way has me in awe. And maybe that’s enough to keep me going.
I’ve only ever shared this with people close to me. But if you know me, you know how much I love coffee. My grandpa gave me my first cup of coffee when I was just three years old. It’s a big part of my culture. It’s how people invite, welcome, and hold space for others. It tastes so good. You can have it in a variety of different ways. Visiting new coffee shops is a magical experience in and of itself.
I’m deeply curious and love learning and can nerd out on things I love. I’ve watched full-fledged hour long podcast episodes on coffee alone. Just to give you an idea of how much I love it.
With that being said, if you love spending time with my words, and would like to be part of fulfilling my dream to do this full-time and make a living off of what I love, feel free to buy me a coffee! Saying your support means the world would be an understatement. It truly, in every sense, would mean everything!
Thanks again for spending time with my words.
Until next time,
Kevin